BMO Harris Bank Helps Foster Economic Development And Expand Education In Joliet

JOLIET, Ill., Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BMO Harris Bank, Joliet Mayor Tom Giarrante, and the University of St. Francis joined local officials and businesses for a ceremony to commemorate the donation of the Mode Theatre building to the University of St. Francis for expansion of its educational programs.

"By collaborating with the City of Joliet and the University of St. Francis, we will be able to jump start an important economic development project to help spur growth in downtown Joliet," said Chris McComish, Executive Vice President, Retail Banking, BMO Harris Bank. "With our donation we hope future students will have greater opportunities to enrich their lives in an economically thriving community."

"When we all work together, great things can happen, said City of Joliet Mayor Tom Giarrante. "This collaboration literally sets the stage for the next wave of development in downtown Joliet."  

The Mode Theatre is a three-story structure that was built in 1908, and housed a 750-seat movie theater that operated until the mid-1980s.  In 1985, the building was converted into multi-tenant office space and in 2009 the bank obtained the title to the building.

"We appreciate that both the City of Joliet and BMO Harris Bank recognize the importance of having Joliet's university grow its downtown activities," said Michael J. Vinciguerra, President, University of St. Francis. "BMO Harris Bank has shown particular acumen in pursuing this collaboration, which contributes to the downtown revitalization as well as to higher education programming."

The university plans to locate one or more additional programs in the Mode Theatre, including a potential Center for Collaboration, which may house the following:

• An Executive MBA program
• A Hospitality Management program that would be offered as a bachelor's degree-completion program to Joliet Junior College's Culinary Arts program
• An International Studies program
• The Criminal & Social Justice program (one of the fastest growing degree programs at USF), which collaborates extensively with law enforcement, including the nearby Will County Courthouse and the Adult Detention Facility.

About BMO Harris Bank
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 650 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris BankSM is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.

The University of St. Francis in Joliet serves 3,400 students nationwide, offering 44 undergraduate programs, four degree-completion programs and 15 graduate programs, including two doctoral programs. Programs are offered in arts and science, business, education, nursing and health care and social work. For information, call (800) 735-7500 or visit www.stfrancis.edu.

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank